Light-emitting  inflatable balloon

ABSTRACT

The present invention is to provide a light-emitting inflatable balloon, which comprises an inflatable balloon constructed by two first films sealed together to define an inflatable space and a through hole; a strip-like gas inlet constructed by two second films sealed together to define an air input channel, and having an end extended into the inflatable space and an outer surface sealed to the inner surface of the through hole. After the inflatable balloon is inflated, a light-emitting element is inserted into the air input channel and is electrically connected to a power module through wires. A holder is configured to hold the light-emitting element or wires while covering a part of the outer surface of the inflatable balloon that corresponds in position to the through hole, so that the light emitted by the light-emitting element can pass through the strip-like gas inlet and make the inflatable balloon glowing.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an inflatable balloon, more particularly to a light-emitting inflatable balloon, which uses a holder to secure a light-emitting element inside a strip-like gas inlet of the inflatable balloon, so as to enable light emitted by the light-emitting element to pass through the strip-like gas inlet, penetrate outer surface of the inflatable balloon, and make the inflatable balloon glowing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

People participate in or organize all kinds of parties (e.g., wedding banquets, birthday parties, class reunions, etc.) to celebrate special occasions, maintain social connections, or expand social networks. In order to create a festive atmosphere and set the guests in high spirits, party organizers (hereinafter referred to as “users”) would often decorate the party venues with various decorative props. As balloons are available in a variety of shapes and colors, they are the favorite choice among users. In addition to simple balloon arrangements, some users would like to install light-emitting elements in balloons to provide further variations and increase the fun.

To satisfy the foregoing needs, light-emitting balloons were designed and developed. For example, there is a light-emitting balloon already existing in the market, whose principle and structure are described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the light-emitting balloon comprises an inflatable ball 10, an inflation valve 11, a support base 12, a support frame 13, and a light-emitting diode (LED) 14. An inflation hole 101 is formed in a portion of the outer periphery of the inflatable ball 10 and has a rim forming an annular portion. The lower portion of the inflation valve 11 is a cylindrical portion 110, whose upper end is connected to a disk portion 111 and whose lower end is extended downward to form a tongue 112. The tongue 112 can be attached with a thread 113 to be held by the user or tied to other objects. The inflation valve 11 is received in the inflation hole 101 while the disk portion 111 of the inflation valve 11 is tightly connected to the inner surface of the inflatable ball 10. The inflation valve 11 has a valve plate 114 which is made of rubber. The valve plate 114 is configured to prevent the gas in the inflatable ball 10 from leaking. The bottom surface of the support base 12 is engaged with the inflation valve 11, and the top surface of the support base 12 is formed with an engagement hole 120.

The bottom surface of the support frame 13 has four tenons 131 which correspond in position to the engagement hole 120 and allow the support frame 13 to be securely engaged with the support base 12. The support frame 13 is further used to clamp and hold a button battery 132. In addition, the LED 14 is connected to the top end of the support frame 13 and receives electric power from the button battery 132 so as to emit visible light. As the visible light shines on and penetrates the surface of the inflatable ball 10, the inflatable ball 10 is turned into a light-emitting balloon. To assemble the aforesaid elements, the button battery 132 is mounted in the support frame 13, before the support frame 13, the support base 12, and the inflation valve 11 are sequentially assembled. The resultant assembly is placed into the inflation hole 101 of the inflatable ball 10. After that, the inflatable ball 10 is inflated with gas (such as helium) through the inflation hole 101 until the inflatable ball 10 is expanded to a predetermined volume. Thus, the light-emitting balloon is completed and ready for use in decoration.

However, the light-emitting balloon described above still has its disadvantages. First of all, as the inflation valve 11, the support base 12, the support frame 13, and the LED 14 are all placed in the inflatable ball 10, if there is insufficient helium gas in the inflatable ball 10, the buoyancy of the inflatable ball 10 will be smaller than the total weight of the foregoing elements, thereby preventing the inflatable ball 10 from floating in the air. Instead, the inflatable ball 10 will drop to the ground, resulting in a poor decoration effect. Secondly, when the power of the button battery 132 is exhausted, the user must take the foregoing elements out of the inflatable ball 10, remove the button battery 132 from the support frame 13 for replacement, re-assemble the foregoing elements sequentially, this time with the new button battery, and then place the assembly back into the inflatable ball 10, which is truly a laborious and time-consuming process. Furthermore, as a party venue is usually decorated with a plurality of light-emitting balloons, if the power of several of the light-emitting balloons goes out at the same time, it must take the user a lot of time to replace all the dead button batteries in the inflatable balls, which is rather inconvenient. Last but not least, due to their structural complexity, the foregoing elements of the light-emitting balloon are costly to make and require complicated processing procedures. As a result, not only is production efficiency lowered, but also the manufacturing cost is considerably increased, thus reducing the manufacturer's profitability.

Therefore, the issue to be addressed by the present invention is to overcome the aforesaid problems of the traditional light-emitting balloons and reduce the weight and complexity of their components, with a view to enhancing manufacturing efficiency and lowering production costs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the aforementioned problems, the inventor of the present invention conducted extensive research and repeated trials and finally succeeded in developing a light-emitting inflatable balloon which features structural simplicity, light weight, and hence high manufacturing efficiency.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a light-emitting inflatable balloon which comprises an inflatable balloon, a strip-like gas inlet, a light-emitting element, two wires, a holder, and a power module. The inflatable balloon is constructed by two first films, wherein the peripheries of the first films are sealed together in an airtight manner to define an inflatable space in the inflatable balloon and pre-form a through hole at corresponding positions of the corresponding side edges of the two first films. The strip-like gas inlet is constructed by two strip-like transparent second films, wherein a pair of side edges of one of the two second films are sealed to the corresponding pair of side edges of the other second film in an airtight manner to define an air input channel. The strip-like gas inlet has a first end extended into the inflatable balloon to form a free end. The strip-like gas inlet also has an outer surface which is adjacent to a second end of the strip-like gas inlet and sealed to the inner surface of the through hole in an airtight manner. After the inflatable balloon is inflated and expanded, the compressed gas in the inflatable space presses on the outer surface of the strip-like gas inlet; consequently, the air input channel is tightly closed due to gas pressure and surface electrostatic interaction. Then, the light-emitting element is inserted into the air input channel of the strip-like gas inlet from outside the inflatable balloon and is electrically connected to first ends of the wires. The holder is configured to hold the light-emitting element or the wires while covering a part of the outer surface of the inflatable balloon that corresponds in position to the through hole, so that the light-emitting element is secured in the strip-like gas inlet and corresponds in position to the inflatable space. The power module is electrically connected to second ends of the wires. In short, after the inflatable space is inflated, and the air input channel is tightly shut due to gas pressure and surface electrostatic interaction, the user can insert the light-emitting element into the air input channel from outside the inflatable balloon and then use the holder to secure the light-emitting element or the wires in place. Thus, the light emitted by the light-emitting element can pass through the strip-like gas inlet, penetrate the outer surface of the inflatable balloon, and make the inflatable balloon glowing. The disclosed light-emitting inflatable balloon can be easily designed and fabricated without using complicated elements and/or processing procedures. In addition, compared with the prior art, the light-emitting inflatable balloon has more applications (e.g., to serve also as an emergency light at night), is more decorative (e.g., to provide nocturnal decoration), and provides more fun (e.g., to emit flickering light at night). Further, the manufacturing cost of the disclosed light-emitting inflatable balloon can be effectively lowered, and production efficiency substantially enhanced.

Another object of the present invention is to provide the foregoing light-emitting inflatable balloon, which further comprises a hollow sleeve. The hollow sleeve is received in the strip-like gas inlet such that the second ends of the two wires pass through a central hole of the hollow sleeve and extend out of the inflatable balloon. Moreover, the holder holds the hollow sleeve while covering a part of the outer surface of the inflatable balloon, thus securing the light-emitting element and the hollow sleeve in place. To prevent the light-emitting element from sliding into the hollow sleeve, the diameter of the central hole is smaller than the size of the light-emitting element.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide the foregoing light-emitting inflatable balloon, wherein the holder is constructed by two holding elements, each of which has one end adjacent to the inflatable balloon and extended with a bracket for supporting the inflatable balloon stably, preventing the inflatable balloon from shaking, and thereby enhancing the stability of the light-emitting inflatable balloon.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The structure and the technical means adopted by the present invention to achieve the above and other objects can be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an assembled cross-sectional view of a traditional light-emitting balloon;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the traditional light-emitting balloon depicted in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a light-emitting inflatable balloon according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an assembled perspective view of the light-emitting inflatable balloon according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a light-emitting inflatable balloon according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is an assembled perspective view of the light-emitting inflatable balloon according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention provides a light-emitting inflatable balloon. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 for a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, a light-emitting inflatable balloon comprises an inflatable balloon 30, a strip-like gas inlet 31, a light-emitting element 32, two wires 33, a holder 34, and a power module 35. The inflatable balloon 30 is formed by heat sealing two first films 300 together, wherein the first films 300 are made of polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride, for example. (FIG. 3 shows only one of the two first films 300.) The peripheries of the first films 300 are sealed to each other in an airtight manner so as to define an inflatable space 301 in the inflatable balloon 30. Furthermore, a side edge of the inflatable balloon 30 is formed with a through hole 302 which communicates with the inflatable space 301 and the ambient environment. The strip-like gas inlet 31 is constructed by two strip-like transparent second films 310. A pair of side edges of one of the two second films 310 are sealed by heat to the corresponding pair of side edges of the other second film 310, thus not only allowing the two ends of the strip-like gas inlet 31 to communicate with each other, but also forming an air input channel 311 in the strip-like gas inlet 31. The first end of the strip-like gas inlet 31 passes through the through hole 302 and extends into the inflatable balloon 30 to define a free end (shown in FIG. 3 as the upper end of the strip-like gas inlet 31). Meanwhile, an outer surface of the strip-like gas inlet 31 that is adjacent to the second end (i.e., the lower end as shown in FIG. 3) of the strip-like gas inlet 31 is sealed to the corresponding inner surface of the through hole 302 in an airtight manner. To manufacture the strip-like gas inlet 31, the two second films 310 forming the strip-like gas inlet 31 are coated respectively with ink layers in advance, wherein the ink layers are formed in positions corresponding to the air input channel 311. Then, the second films 310 and the two first films 300 are put jointly into a heat sealing machine so as to be heat sealed. As a result, the peripheries of the two first films 300 are sealed together, and each of the second films 310 is sealed to the corresponding first film 300. The ink layers between the two second films 310 prevent the two second films 310 from being completely sealed and thereby allow the strip-like gas inlet 31 to be successfully formed.

The light-emitting element 32 is a light-emitting diode (LED) and is received in the strip-like gas inlet 31. The outer periphery of the light-emitting element 32 is formed with a flange 321, and the two electrodes 322 of the light-emitting element 32 are respectively and electrically connected to the first ends of the two wires 33. The inner periphery of the holder 34 is formed with a groove 341 corresponding in position to the flange 321, so as for the holder 34 to hold the light-emitting element 32 while covering a part of the outer surface of the inflatable balloon 30 that corresponds in position to the through hole 302. Thus, by means of the holder 34, the light-emitting element 32 is stably mounted in the strip-like gas inlet 31 at a position corresponding to the inflatable space 301. In addition, the power module 35 is a handle installed with batteries 351, and the second ends of the two wires 33 are electrically connected to the power module 35 to supply electric power from the power module 35 to the light-emitting element 32.

To use the light-emitting inflatable balloon, the user firstly inserts a blowing tube (not shown) into the air input channel 311 and thereby inflates the inflatable space 301 with gas (such as helium). Once the inflatable space 301 is filled with gas and expanded to a predetermined shape or volume, the blowing tube is removed. At this time, the free end of the strip-like gas inlet 31 that is in the inflatable balloon 30 is subjected to gas pressure as well as surface electrostatic interaction and is therefore tightly sealed, as shown in FIG. 4. The sealed free end prevents the gas in the inflatable balloon 30 from leaking through the strip-like gas inlet 31. After the foregoing steps, the user inserts the light-emitting element 32 into the air input channel 311. It is important that the light-emitting element 32 should not be inserted too deeply, otherwise the light-emitting element 32 may break the seal of the free end. Due to the gas pressure and the surface electrostatic interaction, the air input channel 311 now adheres to the light-emitting element 32 and the wires 33; as a result, the light-emitting element 32 and the wires 33 are positioned stably in the air input channel 311. To further prevent the light-emitting element 32 from sliding out of the strip-like gas inlet 31, the user can use the holder 34 to secure the light-emitting element 32 in place, wherein the holder 34 has two holding elements tightly connected to each other by two connection elements 342 and two connection holes 343. Then, by turning on the power of the power module 35, the light-emitting element 32 is activated to emit light and make the light-emitting inflatable balloon glowing.

Referring again to FIGS. 3 and 4, the first preferred embodiment described above allows the user to view and play with the light-emitting inflatable balloon while holding the power module 35; hence, the decorative effect and fun of the light-emitting inflatable balloon are substantially enhanced. Furthermore, as the elements used in the first preferred embodiment have such advantages as compactness and structural simplicity, the light-emitting inflatable balloon can be easily fabricated without using complicated elements and/or complicated processing procedures. Consequently, the manufacturing cost can be effectively reduced, and production efficiency considerably increased.

In a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the light-emitting inflatable balloon comprises an inflatable balloon 50, a strip-like gas inlet 51, a light-emitting element 52, two wires 53, a holder 54, a power module 55, a hollow sleeve 56, and a support tube 57. The inflatable balloon 50 is formed by sealing two first films 500 together. In addition, a through hole 502 is formed at a side edge of the inflatable balloon 50, and an inflatable space 501 is defined in the inflatable balloon 50. The strip-like gas inlet 51 is constructed by two strip-like transparent second films 510 in such a way that an air input channel 511 is formed in the strip-like gas inlet 51. A first end of the strip-like gas inlet 51 passes through the through hole 502 and extends into the inflatable balloon 50 to define a free end (shown in FIG. 5 as the upper end). Meanwhile, an outer surface of the strip-like gas inlet 51 that is adjacent to a second end (i.e., the lower end as shown in FIG. 5) of the strip-like gas inlet 51 is connected with the corresponding inner surface of the through hole 502. The light-emitting element 52 is received in the air input channel 511, with the two electrodes 522 of the light-emitting element 52 being respectively and electrically connected to the first ends of the two wires 53. The hollow sleeve 56 is received in the strip-like gas inlet 51 such that the second ends of the two wires 53 pass through a central hole 561 of the hollow sleeve 56 and extend out of the inflatable balloon 50. The outer periphery of the hollow sleeve 56 is protrudingly provided with a flange 562. When the inflatable space 501 is filled with gas, the air input channel 511 adheres tightly to the light-emitting element 52 and the wires 53 due to gas pressure and surface electrostatic interaction. To prevent the light-emitting element 52 from sliding into the hollow sleeve 56, and to keep the hollow sleeve 56 from shielding the light emitted by the light-emitting element 52, the diameter of the central hole 561 is smaller than the size of the light-emitting element 52.

In addition, the holder 54 is constructed by two holding elements 541, whose corresponding side surfaces are formed with two grooves 5410 respectively, wherein the grooves 5410 correspond in position to the flange 562 of the hollow sleeve 56. Besides, each holding element 541 has one end which is adjacent to the inflatable balloon 50 and extended with a bracket 5411. The holder 54 holds the hollow sleeve 56 while covering a part of the outer surface of the inflatable balloon 50; consequently, the light-emitting element 52 and the hollow sleeve 56 are stably and fixedly positioned adjacent to the second end of the strip-like gas inlet 51. The brackets 5411 are configured to support the inflatable balloon 50 stably and prevent the inflatable balloon 50 from shaking. A first end (i.e., the upper end as shown in FIG. 5) of the support tube 57 is mounted around the holder 54, thus allowing the second ends of the two wires 53 to pass through the support tube 57 and be electrically connected to the power module 55. The power module 55 is provided with a receiving recess 551 into which a second end (i.e., the lower end as shown in FIG. 5) of the support tube 57 can be inserted so that the support tube 57 stands on the power module 55.

When it is desired to use the light-emitting inflatable balloon for decoration, the user inflates the inflatable space 501, inserts the light-emitting element 52 and the hollow sleeve 56 into the air input channel 511, and then secures the light-emitting element 52 and the hollow sleeve 56 in place with the holder 54. Once the power of the power module 55 is turned on, the light-emitting element 52 emits light which not only shines on the inner surface of the inflatable balloon 50 but also passes through the outer surface of the inflatable balloon 50 to make the light-emitting inflatable balloon glowing. Therefore, according to the design of the second preferred embodiment, the user can place a plurality of the light-emitting inflatable balloons in a party venue to decorate the place. Besides, the decorative features of the present invention will become more apparent at parties held at night. It should be noted that the power module 55 may be modified in terms of its power supply mode. For example, the power module 55 can be so configured that the light-emitting element 52 emits light in a flickering manner, thus adding to the fun of the present invention. Furthermore, the second preferred embodiment may have other applications, such as functioning as an emergency light or a sign for nighttime use.

While the invention has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims. 

1. A light-emitting inflatable balloon, comprising: an inflatable balloon constructed by two first films, wherein peripheries of the first films are sealed to each other in an airtight manner to define an inflatable space in the inflatable balloon and pre-form a through hole at corresponding positions of corresponding side edges of the first films; a strip-like gas inlet constructed by two strip-like transparent second films, wherein a pair of opposite side edges of the two second films are sealed together in an airtight manner to define an air input channel in the strip-like gas inlet, the strip-like gas inlet having a first end extended into the inflatable balloon to form a free end, the strip-like gas inlet further having an outer surface which is adjacent to a second end of the strip-like gas inlet and sealed to an inner surface of the through hole in an airtight manner; a light-emitting element received in the air input channel of the strip-like gas inlet; two wires, each said wire having a first end electrically connected to one of two electrodes of the light-emitting element and a second end passing through the strip-like gas inlet and extending out of the inflatable balloon; a holder for holding the light-emitting element while covering a part of an outer surface of the inflatable balloon that corresponds in position to the through hole, so that the light-emitting element is secured in the strip-like gas inlet and corresponds in position to the inflatable space; and a power module electrically connected to the second ends of the two wires.
 2. The light-emitting inflatable balloon of claim 1, wherein an outer periphery of the light-emitting element is formed with a flange, and an inner periphery of the holder is formed with a groove corresponding in position to the flange, so as for the holder to hold the light-emitting element while covering the part of the outer surface of the inflatable balloon.
 3. The light-emitting inflatable balloon of claim 2, wherein the holder is constructed by two holding elements, and corresponding side surfaces of the holding elements are each formed with the groove corresponding in position to the flange of the light-emitting element.
 4. The light-emitting inflatable balloon of claim 3, wherein each said holding element has an end which is adjacent to the inflatable balloon and extended with a bracket for supporting the inflatable balloon.
 5. The light-emitting inflatable balloon of claim 4, further comprising a support tube, the support tube having an end mounted around the holder so as for the second ends of the two wires to pass through the support tube and be electrically connected to the power module, wherein the support tube stands on the power module.
 6. A light-emitting inflatable balloon, comprising: an inflatable balloon constructed by two first films, wherein peripheries of the first films are sealed to each other in an airtight manner to define an inflatable space in the inflatable balloon and pre-form a through hole at corresponding positions of corresponding side edges of the first films; a strip-like gas inlet constructed by two strip-like transparent second films, wherein a pair of opposite side edges of the two second films are sealed together in an airtight manner to define an air input channel in the strip-like gas inlet, the strip-like gas inlet having a first end extended into the inflatable balloon to form a free end, the strip-like gas inlet further having an outer surface which is adjacent to a second end of the strip-like gas inlet and sealed to an inner surface of the through hole in an airtight manner; a light-emitting element received in the strip-like gas inlet; two wires, each said wire having a first end electrically connected to one of two electrodes of the light-emitting element; a hollow sleeve received in the strip-like gas inlet, thus allowing second ends of the two wires to pass through a central hole of the hollow sleeve and extend out of the inflatable balloon; a holder for holding the hollow sleeve while covering a part of an outer surface of the inflatable balloon, so that the light-emitting element is positioned adjacent to the second end of the strip-like gas inlet; and a power module electrically connected to the second ends of the two wires.
 7. The light-emitting inflatable balloon of claim 6, wherein the central hole of the hollow sleeve has a diameter smaller than a size of the light-emitting element.
 8. The light-emitting inflatable balloon of claim 7, wherein an outer periphery of the hollow sleeve is protrudingly provided with a flange, and the holder is constructed by two holding elements, the holding elements having corresponding side surfaces each formed with a groove corresponding in position to the flange of the hollow sleeve.
 9. The light-emitting inflatable balloon of claim 8, wherein each said holding element has an end which is adjacent to the inflatable balloon and extended with a bracket for supporting the inflatable balloon.
 10. The light-emitting inflatable balloon of claim 9, further comprising a support tube, the support tube having an end mounted around the holder so as for the second ends of the two wires to pass through the support tube and be electrically connected to the power module, wherein the support tube stands on the power module. 